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fNFORMATION concerning formation, description, min- 
■*■ eral and agricultural resources, educational advantages, 
streams and water power, timber lands, mineral springs, re- 
sorts and other natural advantages. :: :: :: :: :: :: :: :: 



For further infor- 
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New Castle, Virginia 
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CRAIG COUNTY' COURT HOUSE 



CRAIG COUNTY, VIRGINIA 



CRAIG COUNTY was formed in the 
year 1 85 1 from parts of the counties 
of Botetourt, Roanoke, Giles, and 
Monroe (the last named now a county of 
West Virginia), and is situated in the south- 
western section of the State. It is 240 miles 
west of the City of Richmond, and 325 miles 
west of Hampton Roads, and has an area of 
256,266 acres. The population in 1900 was, 
white 4,032, colored 261, total 4,293. 

The general topography of the county is 
that of mountain and valley, the most charm- 
ing combination that nature can bestow upon 
man for vigor and health. 

The mountains are rich in minerals and 
are clothed with forests of timber of original 



growth; the valleys are fertile and produce 
abundantly grains, grasses, and fruits of vari- 
ous kinds. These valleys are well drained by 
streams of pure water, the principal ones are 
Craig's Creek, John's Creek, Sinking Creek, 
Potts Creek and their tributaries, all of which 
are well supplied with mountain trout and 
black bass. The climate of this section is mild 
and healthful. The principal industries are 
agriculture, stock-raising, poultry raising, fruit 
growing, mining and lumbering. 

New Castle, with an altitude of eighteen 
hundred feet, is the county seat, and is situ- 
ated at the terminus of the Craig Valley 
Branch of the Chesapeake & Ohio Railway, 
and is twenty-seven miles from Eagle Moun- 



Craifr tain on the James River Division of the Ches- 
Counip apeake & Ohio Railway, ninety-three miles 
Qtrginta from Lynchburg and forty-five miles from 
Clifton Forge. The Norfolk & Western 
Railway Company have at this time several 
miles of road under construction, which pene- 
trate some of the best mineral and timber lands 
in the county. Other large timber and mineral 
developments are being prepared for immedi- 
ate operation in other sections of the county. 

ASSESSED VALUES 1906. 

Lands $837,137.60 

PERSONAL PROPERTY 

1294 Horses, Mules, &c 55,810.00 

4054 Cattle 51,134.00 

3364 Sheep 7,011.00 

1514 Hogs. 3,349.00 

Other Personal Property 148,046.67 

Railroad, Telegraph and Telephone Lines 69,959.50 

Total $ 1,172.447.77 



MINERAL RESOURCES. 

Craig County is situated in the very heart 
of what is known as the Onskany Iron Ore 
Field of Appalachian Virginia, and her ores 
are found chiefly on Craig's Creek, John's 
Creek, Potts Creek, and Sinking Creek, and 
their respective tributaries, and they extend 
the entire length of the county — a distance of 
about thirty miles. The Onskany is the great 
ore-bearing formation, and they largely con- 
sist of what is known as brown hematite or 
hydrated oxide of iron; the seams of these 
valuable ores are persistent and regular, and 
their continuity, thickness and uniformity of 
quality and quantity are not questioned; in 
fact, they have been abundantly tested and 
demonstrated by years of the most active ope- 
ration by the Low Moor Iron Company, of 



Virginia, The Alleghany Ore & Iron Com- 
pany, and others, and the modern methods of 
mining have fully developed their immense 
value. The yield of metallic iron varies or 
ranges from forty to sixty per cent., rarely 
falling as low as the minimum percentage just 
named. 

Owing to the peculiar location of these 
ores, mining is inexpensive and water for wash- 
ing purposes, where washing is necessary, 
abounds almost everywhere, with abundance 
of limestone for fluxing; timber for mining 
purposes is also found in large quantities near 
by, consequently, mining may be conducted 
with profitable results during almost any period 
of depression in the iron market. Mining in 
this field, comparatively speaking, is in its in- 
fancy, and it may be truthfully stated that the 



ore supply of this county has, as yet, scarcely 
been touched. 

MANGANESE. 

Manganese in large quantities is found in 
various parts of the county, and it has been 
thoroughly tested and proven. 

LIMESTONE. 

Limestone of remarkable purity is found 
in inexhaustible quantities, averaging ninety- 
eight per cent, of carbonate of lime. 

SLATE. 

Large quantities of slate may be found in 
different sections of the county, all of which 



Craig; 

Countp 

0trg;inta 



is well suited for all purposes for which orna- 
mental slates are used. 

BUILDING STONE, SAND, 
MARBLE, ETC. 

Building stone, sand silicate, potter's clay, 
and vanagated marble not unlike the noted 
Tennessee marble, may be found at various 
points. 

SOAPSTONE. 

Valuable beds of soapstone are found in 
the upper Sinking Creek Valley. 

MINERAL SPRINGS AND RESORTS. 

Craig County, possessed as she is with such 
a variety of minerals, is, therefore, rich in min- 
eral springs, pleasure and health resorts. The 



picturesqueness of the scenery is unsurpassed, 
the mountain air pure and invigorating, the cli- 
mate ideal and the medicinal properties of the 
various mineral springs that have undergone 
development are of unquestioned value to those 
seeking health and rest. 

First in point of importance, we mention 
Craig Healing Springs, which are located 
twelve miles west of New Castle, the county 
seat of Craig, and surrounded as they are by 
scenery of imposing grandeur. The curative 
power of these waters for all skin, stomach, 
liver and kidney diseases, as has been hundreds 
of times demonstrated on those seeking relief, 
is something bordering on the miraculous. 
Many years ago the pioneer settlers had dis- 
covered the beneficial effects of these waters, 
but it took the magic touch of capital to pre- 
pare them for the hundreds and thousands of 



Criug 

Countp 

©tririnia 




5H0RTHORN CATTLE BEING PREPAR-ED FOR_> 
EXPORT MARKETS ON CRAIG COUNTY BLUE GRASS 



people from all sections of the country who 
crowd its commodious buildings seeking rest 
and a return of health. 

Caldwell Healing Springs, located in the 
western suburbs of the town of New Castle, 
has recently sprung into importance and many 
improvements have been added. The waters 
have proven efficacious in numerous cases of 
stomach, blood and cutaneous troubles. The 
many testimonials from parties cured and ben- 
efited speak well for this new resort. 

We might also add that there are a num- 
ber of springs partially developed in different 
parts of the county where a limited number of 
guests are entertained, the most important are 
The Blue Healing, located a few miles west 
of Craig Healing, and especially recom- 
mended for rheumatism, Minadoka Springs, a 
few miles south of New Castle, has had sev- 



eral successful seasons, Webbs Springs, twelve Craig; 
miles south of New Castle, also has a local Count? 
reputation for curing stomach and liver dis- Biiffinia 
eases. Other undeveloped springs are Craig 
Alum, Ripleys and Curative Chalybeate. 

Bel Air Hotel, located in the town of 
New Castle, is one of the most commodious 
and well-appointed hotels in Southwest Vir- 
ginia, equipped with all modern conveniences, 
overlooking the town, with two gigantic moun- 
tain peaks rising precipitously from the plateau 
below, forming a picturesque background. For 
a number of years this building has been filled 
both from Northern and Southern cities. Bel 
Air as well as Craig Healing Springs is at 
present owned by Laing Brothers. 

AGRICULTURAL. 
The farming section of the county consists 




MEADOW CREEK FALLS, ONE-HALF MILE FROM NEW CASTLE 



of four valleys principally, with various smaller 
vales. The soil generally is of black and 
sandy loam with clay bottom, and produces 
well throughout the county, and unusually well 
in the greater portion. Sinking Creek Valley 
being very much elevated and also a limestone 
region accounts for its wonderful productive- 
ness and especially its vast areas of fine blue- 
grass. Craig's Creek and John's Creek Val- 
leys are not as well adapted to grazing as 
Sinking Creek, but are heavy producers of 
wheat and corn. Lower Craig's Creek, the 
valley lying northeast of New Castle, is well 
adapted to all crops, more especially corn, 
wheat, and grass. There is no section better 
suited to trucking than the last-mentioned val- 
ley, as melons, strawberries and other small 
fruits grow to perfection. Craig also has a 
reputation for producing fine horses, cattle and 



sheep. Spring lambs raised on our bluegrass Craig; 
go on the New York and Chicago markets Countp 
vieing with any produced in the country. Many Sirgtnu 
of our cattle are exported to England and 
other countries. Large numbers of draft, driv- 
ing and saddle horses are bred and furnished 
to near-by towns and cities at handsome prices. 
The county is also well adapted to fruit and 
poultry raising. The turkeys alone, shipped 
from the county during the season of 1906 
amounted to something near thirty thousand 
dollars. Fruits of all kinds, especially apples, 
grapes, pears and peaches, may be grown with 
considerable profit on the slopes adjacent to 
the several valleys. 

WATER POWER. 

Along with the many other undeveloped 
resources of the county, none are more prom- 



ising or abundant than the magnificent water 
supply. Three large mountain streams fed by 
springs and flowing for many miles at last con- 
verge into one very large stream near the town 
of New Castle, where excellent manufacturing 
sites may be had. All three of these streams 
as they approach the town on different sides 
are very rapid. Meadow Creek which dashes 
down the side of the mountain by rapids and 
leaps has a descent of over five hundred feet; 
according to volume it rivals the Niagara or 
Colorado Canon, both in its resource and 
beauty. John's Creek pours its large volume 
of water through a narrow gorge in the moun- 
tain over rapids falling one hundred and fifty 
feet and more, giving a splendid water power 
adjacent to the town. The waters of Craig's 
Creek, if properly harnessed, would afford 
power for innumerable enterprises close by the 



Chesapeake & Ohio depot. Barber's Creek is 
a very rapid stream and is in close proximity 
to the iron ore section, this alone makes it val- 
uable for ore-washing purposes. 

On account of these mountain streams be- 
ing fed by springs the flow is uniform even dur- 
ing the dryest weather. 

EDUCATIONAL. 

Craig being one of the newer formed coun- 
ties, located in the southwestern portion of the 
State where the mineral and timber interests 
have been but slightly developed, the county 
for this reason has a small school population, 
but regardless of this fact, no section has made 
more rapid progress during the past few years 
educationally. Improvements are especially 
very noticeable in reference to public school 



Craig; 

Cotintp 

Virginia 




""1 5TEAM jHOVEL Al WORK IN OPf N CI IT AT nkT'^NY, CP.AIG COUNTY, VA 



buildings. The rural districts are supplied 
with commodious houses nicely painted and 
equipped with modern furniture and at all 
points in the county where practicable consoli- 
dated schools are conducted. 

Two public High Schools, one located at 
New Castle, the county seat, the other in the 
western section of the county, are open to all 
pupils free of tuition, provided they are pre- 
pared to take up the high school work. These 
buildings are new and have many modern ar- 
rangements, both being watered from large 
mountain springs, and equipped with boarding 
departments, where students are enabled to ob- 
tain good board and rooms at about $8.00 
per month. 

A music department, libraries and much 
valuable apparati are owned and operated in 
connection with the schools. The principals in 



charge are from the best colleges and univer- 
sities, and the assistants are all instructors of 
experience. The session is eight months, and 
after a pupil has completed the full High 
School course, he should then readily make 
his A. B. degree in one year's work at college. 

CHURCHES AND ROADS. 

The county is supplied with elegant 
churches convenient to all communities, where 
regular services are held by a majority of the 
leading denominations. During the past few 
years a campaign for better roads has been in- 
stituted and much permanent work is being 
done. 

BUSINESS OPPORTUNITIES. 
We know of no place offering the natural 



Countp 
Uirjpnia 



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Craig: advantages to those seeking locations for the 
County following enterprises named below than New 
Uirstima Castle, Virginia, the county seat of Craig. 
Furniture Manufactories, 
Woollen Mills, 
Brick Plant, 
Wood Working Plant, 
Steam Tannery, 
Iron Furnace, 
Steel Plant, 
Electric Plant. 
The location is ideal for other enterprises, 
but considering the magnificent water power, 
fine brick clay, and the town's close proximity 
to inexhaustible beds of iron ore and untouched 
forests of oak, pine and other valuable timbers, 
we are confident the above-named enterprises 
if properly conducted would net the owners 
handsome profits. Manufactured products 



may be shipped via Chesapeake & Ohio Rail- 
way, which offers to shippers all the advan- 
tages of a low-grade route to Lynchburg, 
Richmond, Newport News and Norfolk, it 
is also the shortest and most direct route to 
Cincinnati and the entire West. Connections 
are made with the Norfolk & Western, Balti- 
more & Ohio, Southern and other roads less 
than one hundred miles from this place. A 
branch line of railroad with this town as its 
destination is now being constructed from a 
point on the Norfolk & Western near Roan- 
oke, Virginia, and we feel confident the town 
will have the advantage of direct outlets to 
two trunk lines in the near future. 

Any inquiries addressed to the BOARD 
OF TRADE, NEW CASTLE, VIR- 
GINIA, will be immediately answered and 
the desired information given. 




LIBRARY OF CONGRESS 



014 443 770 6 £ 



